Sup everyone, have not been around these parts for a while

Just got my 2004 Z smogged for the first time, took two tests to get it to pass. First test, I was way over the emissions limits and the other two tests were over as well (nitrogen and Co2). My intake/exhaust system is only lightly modded with basic stuff: Popcharger, crawford plenum, Kinetix high flow cats and HKS dual exhaust.

The boys over at Corner 3 Garage in Lake Forest took a look at my smog report and guessed it was the cats causing the issue. Sure enough, we removed them and the car passed with flying colors.

My question to anyone running the Kinetix HF cats and similar mods, have you been able to get your cars to pass smog? These were marketed as SMOG legal back in the day and that is why I purchased them. I understand that cats can fail, but these probably have only 15k miles on them. If I had known they wouldn't pass I would have spent 1/4 of the money and bought TPs.

As a side note, the SMOG check shop I went to was cool, the guys are really friendly. They were easy on visual, didnt care about the exhaust, or the Plenum but required that the pop charger have a CARB sticker. If anyone is interested here is their info:

Costa Mesa Smog Test Only
188 E. 17th St
Costa Mesa, 92627
949-650-6060

 

These cats were marketed as smog legal, but only because other states have less strict smog rules...in Socal (the strictest state of all) these cats are not legal; in fact, there are NO aftermarket cats that are legal around here; you're lucky that smog shop wasn't so strict because you would have failed visual right away if they took a look at your cats...

 

The Kinetix cats look just like the stock ones, doubt a smog shop would be able to see a visual difference.

Im wondering if I would have passed if I had done some ECU tuning....

Oh well...

Anyone want to buy some Kinetix HF cats with 15k miles on them?? I actually really miss the way they sound already...

 

Hey bro its a little late but I passed smog by a hair. I dont remember the exact numbers but it was something like the max number was 50. I passed with 49.

I have everything you have except for the plenum.

 

hey just wondering i have nismo headers...stock cats and exhaust will the z still pass smog?? having to do smog at end of this year...lol

 

i passed with ease with nismo headers. you should be just fine.

 

whens is first smog due with 07's? I thought it was 7 years after manufactered date?



edit: saw you had an 04 nm.

 

DJK,

Were you labeled a "gross polluter" for failing the smog test 3 times before passing?

Got to go get tested very soon and my Kinetix cats have 50k on them

Big thumbs up to 3 corners though Those guys are great!

 

I failed only once so I didn't have that issue.

Corner 3 is the only place besides a dealer I will take any of my cars. Its nice to have a shop you can trust and they really go out of their way to help you out.

 

Too bad you couldnt just pay someone to pass you.....





pay someone to pass you .............










pay someone to pass you

 

Not really worth the hassle or cost in my case.

 

I know the feeling. I am running a full on custom exhaust with BERK HFC's and the station wouldn't even consider running a test based off of a visual inspection. I was looking at getting the car registered in Cali, as it currently has Hawaii plates, but it doesn't look like it is going to happen anytime soon. Contemplating swapping the cats just for the test or will just get the car registered in TX online. Thing is, BERK mentions that the HFC's are legal in all 50 states. Might have to pay someone to pass you like someone else mentioned previously...

 

the first smog place i failed visual, but the 2nd smog place passed me, it was a more expensive place i have the hfc and motordyne shockwave exhaust